Should I season new cast iron grill grates?

At Char-Griller, we really like cast-iron for grill grates. They hold heat efficiently and evenly and there is nothing quite like a good sear on cast iron.

Unlike stainless steel grates, cast iron grates do need a little more care. Here’s how to care for your cast-iron grill grates so you can keep grilling at your best.

First thing's first, cast-iron grates and porcelain coated grates are NOT the same thing. This guide is for cast-iron grill grates not porcelain coated grill grates. Alright, now that we have that out of the way, let’s get going.

First Time Use

When you first get your Char-Griller grill, you are going to want to remove the cast-iron grill grates and give them a good wash with warm water. You can use soap at this point if you want. After washing, make sure to dry the grates off entirely with a towel.

Using a paper towel or brush, brush the grill grates with cooking oil. We recommend vegetable oil, grapeseed oil, or bacon fat. After the grates are coated, you can place them in a 400-degree oven for an hour or on a 400-degree grill for 40 minutes. After time is up, let the grates cool down naturally. 

Maintaining Grill Grates

It is recommended to regularly season your grill grates, especially when they are new. After you are done grilling, allow the grill to cool slightly and then get any burnt on residue off the grates with a grill brush or scraper. You can also use half an onion to clean off your grill grates.

After you have scraped the grill, dip a paper towel in vegetable oil or bacon grease and rub the paper towel all over the grates using a pair of tongs. Make four to five passes with the oil to ensure proper seasoning. 

Soap or No Soap 

Alright, people have STRONG opinions about using soap on cast-iron. The no-soap-ever people argue that the soap strips off all that hard-earned seasoning and the yes-soap people feel that soap is the only way to get the grates truly clean.

We’re not taking sides, but no matter how you choose to clean your grill grates, don’t forget to scrape off any food leftovers from the grates and brush them with a good coat of oil to ensure they stay seasoned. 

How to Avoid Rust

Without the proper care, cast-iron grill grates will rust. Thankfully, there are easy ways to avoid this. 

1. Make sure that you scrape your grates after each use
2. Season them by brushing with oil after each use
3. Leave the dampers open a bit so that condensation does not collect in the grill
4. Put the lid back on your grill when it is not in use
5. Cover the grill when it is not in use
6. If you need to store your grill for a long period of time, heavily coat them in cooking oil, wrap them in a plastic bag and store in your covered grill

Cast-iron can sometimes be tricky to take care of, but with a little elbow grease and persistence, you can quickly turn those grates into the thing of beauty that will handle anything you throw at them.

How do I season my cast iron cooking grids?

It is important to periodically season your cast iron cooking grids. This will prevent food from sticking, prevent rusting and increase the life of your grids for many years to come. Seasoning your cast iron grids is quick and easy to do. Follow these simple steps:

Seasoning new cast iron cooking grids:

Before cooking on your barbecue grill for the first time, wash the grids using a light detergent and water. Rinse then dry with a towel. Never air-dry grids or wash them in a dishwasher.

Spread a thin coating of cooking oil over entire surface of the cast iron grids with a basting brush or oil mister. Be certain the entire surface, including all corners, have been coated thoroughly.

We recommend using a HIGH SMOKE POINT OIL like one of these organic cold pressed cooking oils.

Avocado Oil – smoke point (260C / 500F)

Rice Bran Oil – smoke point (255C / 500F)

Canola Oil – smoke point (204C /400F)

Do not use salted fat such as margarine or butter. Non-stick cooking sprays are less effective as they burn off at low heat.

Now that you have applied oil to your new cast iron grids, light the grill and operate on Med/Low (400F or 200C) for 30 minutes. The oil bakes on and creates a non-stick protective layer. Turn the control knobs OFF. After the grids have cooled, they are seasoned and ready to use.

Re-seasoning cast iron cooking grids:

It’s always best to clean and re-season your grids after you have finished grilling your meal. So before you turn off your barbecue grill, follow these simple steps:

With the lid open, turn the control knobs to the MEDIUM HIGH position. Close the lid and wait ten minutes. This will help burn off excess food debris and oils. Then, open the lid and turn the control knobs to the off position. Clean your grids by removing any excess food and oils using a quality stainless steel barbecue grill brush or wood BBQ scrapper.

Spread a thin coating of High Smoke Point Oil over entire surface of the cast iron grids with a basting brush or oil mister.

Storing Your Cast Iron Grids:

When your barbecue grill is not in use for long periods of time, store your cast iron grids in a dry warm place. Coating clean, dry cooking grids with cooking oil (at room temperature) will create an extra layer of protection against rust.

Should cast iron grill grates be seasoned?

How do you season new cast iron grill grates?

Do new grill grates need to be seasoned?